READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 187 over 50 to 110

A top number of 187 is above 180, the line the American Heart Association uses for severe high blood pressure, whatever the bottom number.

Reviewed by Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD, MPH, FACC, board-certified cardiologist. Categories follow the 2025 ACC/AHA guideline for adults.

Above 180: Wait a minute and check again. If it is still above 180, call your doctor. Call 911 if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or trouble speaking.

187 over what? The quick answer

187/50 to 110: Severe (above 180)

Every 187 reading

Pulse pressure is the top number minus the bottom number. MAP (mean arterial pressure) is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure.

Reading	Category	Pulse pressure	MAP
187/50	Severe	137	95.7
187/51	Severe	136	96.3
187/52	Severe	135	97
187/53	Severe	134	97.7
187/54	Severe	133	98.3
187/55	Severe	132	99
187/56	Severe	131	99.7
187/57	Severe	130	100.3
187/58	Severe	129	101
187/59	Severe	128	101.7
187/60	Severe	127	102.3
187/61	Severe	126	103
187/62	Severe	125	103.7
187/63	Severe	124	104.3
187/64	Severe	123	105
187/65	Severe	122	105.7
187/66	Severe	121	106.3
187/67	Severe	120	107
187/68	Severe	119	107.7
187/69	Severe	118	108.3
187/70	Severe	117	109
187/71	Severe	116	109.7
187/72	Severe	115	110.3
187/73	Severe	114	111
187/74	Severe	113	111.7
187/75	Severe	112	112.3
187/76	Severe	111	113
187/77	Severe	110	113.7
187/78	Severe	109	114.3
187/79	Severe	108	115
187/80	Severe	107	115.7
187/81	Severe	106	116.3
187/82	Severe	105	117
187/83	Severe	104	117.7
187/84	Severe	103	118.3
187/85	Severe	102	119
187/86	Severe	101	119.7
187/87	Severe	100	120.3
187/88	Severe	99	121
187/89	Severe	98	121.7
187/90	Severe	97	122.3
187/91	Severe	96	123
187/92	Severe	95	123.7
187/93	Severe	94	124.3
187/94	Severe	93	125
187/95	Severe	92	125.7
187/96	Severe	91	126.3
187/97	Severe	90	127
187/98	Severe	89	127.7
187/99	Severe	88	128.3
187/100	Severe	87	129
187/101	Severe	86	129.7
187/102	Severe	85	130.3
187/103	Severe	84	131
187/104	Severe	83	131.7
187/105	Severe	82	132.3
187/106	Severe	81	133
187/107	Severe	80	133.7
187/108	Severe	79	134.3
187/109	Severe	78	135
187/110	Severe	77	135.7

What to do with a 187 reading

Wait a minute and check again. If it is still above 180, call your doctor. Call 911 if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or trouble speaking.

Readings move from minute to minute, and the first one usually runs a few points higher. The home measuring guide covers how to get a reading you can trust, and the 7-day home average turns a week of readings into the number your doctor uses. To check any reading, use the category checker.

Common questions

Is 187/70 high blood pressure?

187/70 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

Is 187/80 high blood pressure?

187/80 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

Is 187/90 high blood pressure?

187/90 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

What is the MAP of 187/80?

About 115.7 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 107/3. The pulse pressure is 107.

This page is educational and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Categories describe numbers for adults; they are not a diagnosis, and they are not a substitute for care from your own doctor.

SOURCES

Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (Circulation, 2025): Blood pressure categories (normal under 120/80, elevated 120 to 129 and under 80, stage 1 130 to 139 or 80 to 89, stage 2 140 or 90 and higher); the higher category counts when the two numbers disagree; severe hypertension above 180/120; PREVENT for risk estimation
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings (American Heart Association, reviewed August 14, 2025): Category chart for adults; severe hypertension and hypertensive emergency rows; call 911 above 180/120 with symptoms

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